pelvic fin
noun
: one of the paired fins of a fish that are homologous with the hind limbs of a quadruped
Examples of pelvic fin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For instance, the Chilean sharks had longer heads and smaller pelvic fins relative to their total body length.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
These remarkable animals can use their pectoral and pelvic fins to shuffle across tidal flats and coral reefs exposed during low tides.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
This species has a distinctive appearance with smooth, scaleless skin and long, filamentous pectoral and pelvic fins that resemble limbs more than typical fins.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Its appearance is somewhat prehistoric, with a broad, flattened head and large, paddle-like pectoral and pelvic fins that give it a somewhat awkward but distinctive swimming style.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
The pectoral and pelvic fins on male fish are slightly larger than the female fins, and the base of the anal-fin is straight in females but convex in males, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 22 May 2024
Some scans revealed that Tiktaalik had unexpectedly massive hips (more like Thicctaalik) and a surprisingly big pelvic fin.
—New York Times, 29 Apr. 2022
The three-foot-long creatures live near Australia, moving their pectoral fins in the front and pelvic fins in the back to plod along, writes Nat Geo’s Douglas Main.
—National Geographic, 30 Jan. 2020
These three-foot-long creatures live near Australia, and, as their name implies, move their pectoral fins in the front and pelvic fins in the back to plod along the seafloor—or even atop coral reefs, outside the water, at low tide.
—National Geographic, 23 Jan. 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
These remarkable animals can use their pectoral and pelvic fins to shuffle across tidal flats and coral reefs exposed during low tides.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
This species has a distinctive appearance with smooth, scaleless skin and long, filamentous pectoral and pelvic fins that resemble limbs more than typical fins.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
Its appearance is somewhat prehistoric, with a broad, flattened head and large, paddle-like pectoral and pelvic fins that give it a somewhat awkward but distinctive swimming style.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
The pectoral and pelvic fins on male fish are slightly larger than the female fins, and the base of the anal-fin is straight in females but convex in males, researchers said.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 22 May 2024
Some scans revealed that Tiktaalik had unexpectedly massive hips (more like Thicctaalik) and a surprisingly big pelvic fin.
—New York Times, 29 Apr. 2022
The three-foot-long creatures live near Australia, moving their pectoral fins in the front and pelvic fins in the back to plod along, writes Nat Geo’s Douglas Main.
—National Geographic, 30 Jan. 2020
These three-foot-long creatures live near Australia, and, as their name implies, move their pectoral fins in the front and pelvic fins in the back to plod along the seafloor—or even atop coral reefs, outside the water, at low tide.
—National Geographic, 23 Jan. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Pelvic fin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pelvic%20fin. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share